Roger Federer spoke to the press in Madrid on Sunday and was brimming with optimism about his chances at the Madrid Open and for the rest of the season. Roger said that he knows he can beat Nadal on clay, despite the head-to-head, and that his main goals for the year are winning Roland Garros and Wimbledon. He also mentioned that he isn’t actively searching for a new coach, but is always “open” for solid advice on ways to improve his game.
Federer also revealed his fascinating “hide-and-seek” theory to playing Nadal:
“It might have been a little bit of an advantage for Rafa to have beaten me before Paris on clay in the past seasons. That gives him confidence and might have made it a little easier to beat me in the (last three Paris) finals. This year I haven’t played him on clay but I’m hoping to play him here in the final. But even if it doesn’t (happen) it could still be a good thing. It’s different when you’ve played a month earlier and got to Paris knowing that you’ve beaten someone.”
Federer added that Novak Djokovic doesn’t share this advantage against the Spaniard since the Serb has recently lost to Nadal in the finals of both Monte Carlo and Rome. But according to Roger’s own logic, doesn’t Djokovic now have the confidence advantage over him (since Roger lost to Novak in Rome semis?)
Oh well, there’s no getting into the mind of a champion. . .
Sources: The Guardian, AFP, and ElMundo (in Spanish)
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